Automated Parcel Singulator

ABSTRACT

An automated parcel singulator includes a conveyor system, a control and monitoring system, an infeed table, and a hopper system. The hopper system stores and dispenses parcels and boxes onto the infeed table. The infeed tables singulates and moves the boxes and parcels, so that when the boxes and parcels are placed on the conveyor system they form a single line of packages.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present application relates to parcel singulator assemblies forsingulating articles, such as letters, flats, parcels, and polybags,along conveyor systems to be processed by automatic sorting machines.

2. Description of Related Art

Automated sorting systems for sorting articles, such as letters, flats,parcels, and polybags, have been around for many years. These automatedsystems typically include a hopper assembly, some sort of “singulation”system, an infeed system, and an automated sorting machine. The hopperassembly is used to introduce randomly sized and shaped articles intothe system. The singulation system is used to singulate and space thearticles along a conveyor prior to entry into the infeed system. Theinfeed system automatically senses and procures data about theindividual articles, including physical information, such as dimensionsand weight; delivery information, such as delivery time and destination;and other data that can be sensed by various automated sensors, cameras,and detectors. Infeed systems may also include gapping belts and variousother belts, rollers, ramps, pushers, walls, and redirection devices torealign the articles and prevent the articles from overlapping eachother prior to entry into the automated sorting machine. The automatedsorting machine is a high-speed, continuous-feed, processing machinethat utilizes the data from the infeed system to sort and route thearticles into selected bins and compartments for later processing.

These automated sorting machines are very complicated and operate atvery high speeds. Because these machines operate at such high speeds, itis important that the articles be organized into a single line withminimal gaps between articles. The larger the gaps between articles, theless efficient the sorting machine operates. This process of aligningthe articles into a single line with minimal gaps is referred to in theparcel-sorting industry as “singulation.”

Historically, the singulation operation was performed by one or morehuman operators stationed near the hopper. As the articles moved fromthe hopper toward the infeed system, the human operators would manuallymove the articles about to arrange the articles in a single line on theconveyor. It is not unexpected that the human operators have not beenable to keep up with the increased speeds of the sorting machines. As aresult, automated singulation systems have been developed toautomatically singulate and arrange the articles on the conveyor priorto introduction into the infeed systems. However, these automatedsingulation systems require a large network of ramps, conveyors,rollers, gapping belts, and redirectors to move the articles andsingulate the articles for introduction into the infeed systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed a characteristic of the system of thepresent application is set forth in the present application. However,the system itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and furtherobjectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by referenceto the following detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general view of the preferred embodiment of an automatedparcel singulator according to the present application.

FIG. 2A is a top view of an infeed table of an automated parcelsingulator according to the present application.

FIG. 2B is a front view of an infeed table of an automated parcelsingulator according to the present application.

FIG. 2C is a side view of an infeed table of an automated parcelsingulator according to the present application.

FIG. 2D is a perspective view of an infeed table of an automated parcelsingulator without belts according to the present application.

FIG. 2E is a perspective view of an infeed table of an automated parcelsingulator according to the present application.

FIG. 2F is a perspective view of an infeed table, without belts, of anautomated parcel singulator according to the present application.

FIG. 3A is a partial top view of an infeed table of an automated parcelsingulator illustrating sensor paths according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 3B is a partial perspective view of an infeed table of an automatedparcel singulator illustrating sensor paths according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 3C is a partial perspective view of an infeed table of an automatedparcel singulator illustrating sensor paths according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 4 is a partial top view of an infeed table of an automated parcelsingulator illustrating sensor paths according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an infeed table of an automated parcelsingulator with additional conveyors according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of an infeed table of an automatedparcel singulator illustrating sensor paths according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 7 is a schematic

While the system of the present application is susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof havebeen shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described indetail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein ofspecific embodiments is not intended to limit the method to theparticular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, combinations, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the system of automated parcel singulatorthe present application are described below. In the interest of clarity,not all features of an actual implementation are described in thisspecification. It will, of course, be appreciated that in thedevelopment of any such actual embodiment, numerousimplementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve thedeveloper's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation toanother. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effortmight be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routineundertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure.

Reference may be made herein to the spatial relationships betweenvarious components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects ofcomponents as the devices are depicted in the attached drawings.However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after acomplete reading of the present application, the devices, members,apparatuses, etc. described herein may be positioned in any desiredorientation. Thus, the use of terms such as “above,” “below,” “upper,”“lower,” or other like terms to describe a spatial relationship betweenvarious components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects ofsuch components should be understood to describe a relative relationshipbetween the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of suchcomponents, respectively, as the device described herein may be orientedin any desired direction. Additionally, “package,” “parcel,” “box,” andother such terms are used interchangeably herein.

Referring now to FIG. 1 in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of anautomated parcel singulator 101 according to the present application isillustrated. Automated parcel singulator 101 is comprised of a hoppersystem 103, an infeed table 105, and a conveyor system 107. Hoppersystem 103 is configured to store a plurality of boxes and packages thatneed to be inserted into an automatic sorting machine. Singulating theboxes and packages into a single stream is necessary for thefunctionality of the sorting system. Additionally, keeping the gapsbetween the boxes and packages to a minimum increases the speed andefficiency of the sorting system. Hopper system 103 is comprised of alift system 111 that supplies boxes to a belt-assisted hopper 113. Boxesand packages are loaded into the lift system 111 and raised above thehopper 113 to fill the hopper 113. Packages slide down a ramp 115 andare deposited onto a belt 117 that feeds boxes and packages to theinfeed table 105. Belt 117 is preferably has a width of 60 inches tofeed a plurality of boxes into the infeed table.

The infeed table 105 is comprised of at least a first controller and aplurality of sensors arrayed along a plurality of conveyor beltspositioned alongside a wedge. The infeed table 105 utilizes thecontroller along with the sensors to control the plurality of conveyorbelts. The controller determines the size and alignment of the boxes andpackages from the hopper system 103 and moves each and every belt on theinfeed table to position the boxes so that a single stream of singulatedboxes are placed on the conveyor system 107. A human may be utilized toface and clean up any double feeds. The system is configured to reducethe amount of human interaction required to face the boxes. Boxes andpackages located on linear conveyor system 107 can then be conveyed intoautomatic mail sorting machines, automatic labelers, and/or othersystems for moving and distributing boxes, flats, mailer, packages, etc.While in the preferred embodiment the first controller operates theentire infeed table, other embodiments feature several additionalcontrollers working in harmony to operate the infeed table. It will beappreciated that the first controller, as well as any additionalcontrollers, may be programmable and be located at any location onautomated parcel singulator 101, such as a control station, or may belocated remote from automated parcel singulate 101.

Referring now also to FIGS. 2A-2F, various views of an infeed table areillustrated. lnfeed table 201 is comprised of a frame 203 supporting afirst pair of conveyors 205, a second pair of conveyors 207, and a wedge209. Typically, each of the conveyors of the first and second pair ofconveyors are 8 about feet or less in length, resulting in a compactsized infeed table. This compact size is important, as many prior-artsingulation systems require many different conveyors and othercomponents spread out over a large space. Packages are supplied to theinfeed table 201 from the hopper system onto the first pair of conveyors205. The first pair of conveyors is located between the wedge 209 andthe hopper system. Each belt of the first pair of conveyors isindependently controllable and bi-directional to allow packages to moveboth ways generally parallel to the wedge 209. Wedge 209 is configuredto assist packages onto the first pair of conveyors 205 with a beveledplane angled relative to the first pair of conveyors. Packages that aredeposited onto the infeed table are either placed directly on the firstpair of conveyors 205 or onto the wedge 209 that helps packages slideback onto the first pair of conveyors. Sensors located adjacent to thefirst pair of conveyors 205 along the frame are utilized by thecontroller to determine position, alignment, and length of boxes on eachof the first pair of conveyors. Typically the sensors are infrared beamemitters and detectors that detect the presence and absence of packagesas they proceed along the system. Other sensors are contemplated by thisapplication, such as digital cameras, strain gages, accelerometers, andlaser-based sensors.

Packages are placed onto one of the second pair of conveyors 207 fromthe first pair of conveyors 205. Each belt of the second pair ofconveyors is independently controllable but unidirectional to only movepackages onto the conveyor system 107. Sensors located adjacent to thesecond pair of conveyors 207 along the frame are utilized by thecontroller to determine position, alignment, and length of boxes on eachof the second pair of conveyors. Typically the sensors are infrared beamemitters and detectors that detect the presence and absence of packagesas they proceed along the system. Other sensors are contemplated by thisapplication, such as digital cameras, strain gages, accelerometers, andlaser-based sensors. Each conveyor of the second pair of conveyors 207is rotated relative, preferably 90 degrees, to the first pair ofconveyors 205 to form corners 211. It will be appreciated that althoughthe preferred orientation of the conveyors is approximatelyperpendicular, other angular orientations may be desired in certainapplications. Therefore, as the package is ejected onto the second pairof conveyors 207 from the first pair of conveyors 205 the package isgenerally forced to be flat along the frame of the second pair ofconveyors 207 and therefore is placed on the conveyor system 107 squaredup.

Referring now also to FIGS. 3A-3C, various views of an infeed table areillustrated. Infeed table 301 is comprised of a frame 303 supporting afirst pair of conveyors 305, a second pair of conveyors 307, and a wedge309. FIG. 3A illustrates a plurality of light beam sensors 311 locatedbefore, during, and after the infeed table. First sensor 311 a islocated just before a package would drop off of the belt of the hopper.Second sensor 311 b is located just after a package would drop off ofthe belt of the hopper. Third sensor 311 c is located at a first end ofa belt of one of the first pair of conveyors 305. Fourth sensor 311 dbisects one belt of the first pair of conveyors 305. Fifth sensor 311 eis located at a second end of a belt of one of the first pair ofconveyors 305. Sixth sensor 311 f is located from one side of a belt toan adjacent side of one of the second pair of conveyors 307. Seventhsensor 311 g is located at a first end of a belt of one of the secondpair of conveyors 307. Furthermore, eighth sensor 311 h is locatedadjacent the exit of the exit path, adjacent an interface between thesecond conveyor and the infeed conveyor system, of the second pair ofconveyors 307. Eighth sensor 311 h is comprised of a plurality ofsensors spaced, typically an inch or two, and enables the controller todetermine a width of an opening along the conveyor system 107, so thatthe infeed table 301 can insert the measured boxes into the opening.Packages are moved from the second pair of conveyors 207 when anappropriate gap size is detected upstream on the infeed conveyor system107. The second pair of conveyors can be configured to inject packageswith a standard conveyor start and stop motion to move the package offof one of the second pair of conveyors 207 on to the infeed conveyors.Additionally the second pair of conveyors 207 can be configured toinject packages using a forward move that has and oscillating speed.Such a move would consist of an oscillating periods of acceleration anddeceleration. While only one side of the infeed table has beendescribed, it should be apparent that the other side is a mirror imageof the described portion.

FIGS. 3B and 3C illustrate an elevation change, or a first drop, betweenthe hopper assembly and the first pair of conveyors 305. Furthermore, anelevation change, or second drop, is located between the first pair ofconveyors 305 and the second pair of conveyors 307. Additionally, anelevation change, or third drop, is located between the second pair ofconveyors 307 and the conveyor system 107.

Referring now also to FIG. 4, a partial top view of an infeed table isillustrated. Alternative infeed table 401 is comprised of a frame 403supporting a first pair of conveyors 405, a second pair of conveyors407, and a wedge 409. Infeed table 401 features a first output path 410a and a second output path 410 b. FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality oflight beam sensors 411 located before, during, and after the infeedtable. First sensor 411 a is located just before a package would dropoff of the belt of the hopper. Second sensor 411 b is located just aftera package would drop off of the belt of the hopper. Third sensor 411 cis located at a first end of a belt of one of the first pair ofconveyors 405. Fourth sensor 411 d bisects one belt of the first pair ofconveyors 405. Fifth sensor 411 e is located at a second end of a beltof one of the first pair of conveyors 405. Sixth sensor 411 f is locatedfrom one side of a belt to an adjacent side of one of the second pair ofconveyors 407. The second pair of conveyors 407 features width measuringsensors, i.e., width sensors, seventh sensor 411 g and eighth sensor 411h, that face opposite directions. Sensors 411 g and 411 h measure thewidth of packages as they travel up to a ninth sensor 411 i on thesecond pair of conveyors 407. Alternatively, seventh sensor 411 g andeighth sensor 411 h are located overhead and face downwardly towards theconveyor to measure the width of the packages. Ninth sensor 411 i islocated at a first end of a belt of one of the second pair of conveyors407.

Infeed table 401 may be used with a linear system of conveyors 413having a first linear conveyor 415, a second linear conveyor 417, and athird linear conveyor 419. Infeed table 401 singulates packages from thehopper onto linear conveyors 413. First linear conveyor 415, featuringthe main feed belt, is located up-stream from infeed table 401, andthird linear conveyor 419 is located generally downstream of infeedtable 401. Second linear conveyor 417 connects third linear conveyor 419to first linear conveyor 415. First linear conveyor 415 is optionalbased upon whether there is an upstream parcel flow. First linearconveyor 415 and third linear conveyor 419 are optional.

Linear system of conveyors 413 further comprises a tenth sensor 411 j,an eleventh sensor 411 k, a twelfth sensor 411 l, and a thirteenthsensor 411 m located to detect jams. The tenth sensor 411 j is locatedupstream, such that the distance from the sensor to the leading edge of407 is larger than the belt width of 407. Tenth sensor 411 j is anexample of a position sensor and is located on a possible main feed belt415 and enables the controller to determine a width of an opening alongthe conveyor system 413. Both the width of an opening on the main feedbelt 415 and the width of the package measured on the second pair ofconveyors 407 are sent to the controller. The controller uses these twowidths along with additional package presence information provided by411 l, 411 k, and 411 m to decide whether to inject a package off of thesecond conveyor 407 and onto second linear conveyor 417. While only oneside of infeed table 401 has been described, it should be apparent thatthe other side is similar in form and function as the described portion.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative infeed table that utilizes four 90degree turns. The first 90 degree turn is occurs when a packagetransitions from the hopper 501 to first pair of conveyors 503 and 505.The second 90 degree transition occurs when a package transitions fromthe first pair of belts 503 and 505 to the second pair of belts 507 and509. In this depiction belt 507 is longer than 509, it should beapparent that these belts could be switched such that belt 507 isshorter then belt 509. Additionally, it should be apparent that anotherconfiguration of this design could have belts 507 and 509 be the samelength. The third 90 degree turn occurs when a package transitions fromthe second pair of belts 507 and 509 to the third pair of belts 511 and513. The fourth and final 90 degree transition occurs when a packagetransitions from the third pair of belts 511 and 513 to the infeedconveyor system 515.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative infeed table that is identical to FIG.1 except that it utilizes an optical visualization system 601 at theinterfaces of a pair of conveyors 603 and a infeed system 605. Theoptical visual system identifies package length, package width, andnumber packages as they travel down the second pair of conveyors.Additionally the optical visual system stages packages at the end of thesecond pair of conveyors for injection onto the infeed system. Thelengths, widths and number of packages are sent to at least onecontroller that makes injection decisions.

Referring now to FIG. 7 in the drawings, a schematic depicting thevarious operational regions of automated parcel singulator isillustrated. The parcels typically travel through automated parcelsingulator 101 in the following manner. Parcels travel along hoppersystem 103 until reaching region A, at which time, the controller istriggered to check and determine whether there are any parcels in regionB. If there are parcels present in region B, then the controller stopshopper system 103, such that the parcels remain in region A. On theother hand, if region B is clear, the controller signals hopper system103 to dump and/or transfer parcels from region A to region B. Once theparcels are at region B, the controller is triggered to check anddetermine whether there are any parcels at region C. If there areparcels present at region C, then the controller stops the firstconveyor 205, such that the parcels remain in region B. On the otherhand, if region C is clear, then the controller signals first conveyor205 to transfer parcels onto region C on second conveyor 207. Thecontroller then checks and determines whether there are any parcels atregion D. If region D is clear the controller signals second conveyor207 to advance the parcels until the parcels reach region D. As theparcels traverse from region C to region D the widths of the parcels aremeasured.

Additionally, as parcels travel down linear conveyor system 107, thegaps between the parcels, represented here as region E, are measured.The controller then compares the width of each parcel at region D withthe widths of the gaps in region E. If the width of the parcel in regionD is bigger than the available gaps in region E, then the controllerwill prevent second conveyor 207 from injecting the parcel onto linearconveyor system 107. On the other hand, if the width of the parcel inregion D is are smaller than a particular gap in region E, thecontroller will cause the second conveyor to inject the parcel into thatparticular gap on linear conveyor system 107. It will be appreciatedthat this process is performed simultaneously on each side of infeedtable 105. It should also be apparent that other parcel movements andbelt movements may be used to optimize and improve the functionality ofautomated parcel singulator 101.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as theapplication may be modified and practiced in different but equivalentmanners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of theteachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to thedetails of construction or design herein shown, other than as describedin the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particularembodiments disclosed above may be altered, combined, and/or modified,and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit ofthe application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as setforth in the claims below. It is apparent that a system with significantadvantages has been described and illustrated. Although the system ofthe present application is shown in a limited number of forms, it is notlimited to just these forms but is amenable to various changes andmodifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:
 1. An automated parcel singulator for selectively transferringparcels from a hopper system onto a linear conveyor system, theautomated parcel singulator comprising: an infeed table comprising: afirst conveyor disposed approximately perpendicular to the hopper, thefirst conveyor being configured to receive the parcels from the hoppersystem and transfer the parcels to the second conveyor; and a secondconveyor disposed approximately perpendicular to the first conveyor, thesecond conveyor being configured to selectively transfer the parcelsfrom the first conveyor to the linear conveyor system, the secondconveyor also being disposed approximately perpendicular to the linearconveyor system; at least a first controller; at least one positionsensor configured to determine a gap between parcels on the linearconveyor system and to relay such gap determination to the firstcontroller; and at least one width sensor configured to determine thewidth of the parcels and to relay such width determination to the firstcontroller as the parcels move along the first conveyor or the secondconveyor, the width sensor being located so as to detect the width ofthe parcels while the parcels are at or upstream of an interface betweenthe second conveyor and the linear conveyor system; wherein the parcelsare selectively held on and transferred from the second conveyor ontothe linear conveyor system, based upon the widths of the parcels on thesecond conveyor and the gaps between parcels moving along the linearconveyor system, as determined by the position sensor, the width sensor,and the first controller.
 2. The automated parcel singulator accordingto claim 1, wherein the first conveyor is reversible such that the firstconveyor can feed the parcels onto a third conveyor, if the secondconveyor is full.
 3. The automated parcel singulator according to claim1, further comprising: a first sensor; a second sensor; and a thirdsensor; wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, and the thirdsensor are spaced along the first conveyor; and wherein the firstcontroller utilizes the first sensor, the second sensor, and the thirdsensor to activate the first conveyor when a parcel is transferred fromthe hopper system onto the first conveyor.
 4. The automated parcelsingulator according to claim 3, further comprising: a corner sensorspanning from a first side of the second conveyor to an adjacent secondside of the second conveyor; wherein the corner sensor is configured toinform the first controller whether a package is located in a firstcorner of the second conveyor.
 5. The automated parcel singulatoraccording to claim 4, further comprising: a first output sensor locatednear a third side of the second conveyor opposite the first side of thesecond conveyor; wherein the first output sensor provides the firstcontroller with data when a package is ejected from an end of the secondconveyor; and wherein the first output sensor is either an opticaldevice or a pair of measuring sensors facing opposite directions.
 6. Theautomated parcel singulator according to claim 1, wherein the infeedtable further comprises: a wedge located between the first conveyor andthe linear conveyor system.
 7. The automated parcel singulator accordingto claim 1, wherein the first distance is as wide as the third side; andwherein the first controller can determine when to eject a parcel ontothe linear conveyor system based upon signals from the position sensor.8. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 1, wherein alength of the first conveyor and a length of the second conveyor areeach less than about 8 feet in length.
 9. The automated parcelsingulator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the conveyorsoscillates at a speed of the linear conveyor system.
 10. The automatedparcel singulator according to claim 5, wherein the first output sensoris elevated over the second conveyor and faces downward toward thesecond conveyor.
 11. An automated parcel singulator for insertingpackages into a linear conveyor system from a hopper, the automatedparcel singulator comprising: a controller; and an infeed tablecomprising: an input connected to the hopper; a first output connectedto the linear conveyor system by a first conveyor connected to a secondconveyor at a right angle between the first conveyor and the secondconveyor forming a first corner; and a second output connected to thelinear conveyor system by a third conveyor connected to a fourthconveyor at a right angle between the third conveyor and the fourthconveyor forming a second corner.
 12. The automated parcel singulatoraccording to claim 11, further comprising: a plurality of sensors spacedalong the first conveyor; wherein the controller utilizes the pluralityof sensors spaced along the first conveyor to activate the firstconveyor when a package is deposited from the hopper onto the firstconveyor.
 13. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 11,further comprising: a corner sensor spanning from a first side of thesecond conveyor to an adjacent second side of the second conveyor;wherein the corner sensor is configured to provide the controllerwhether a package is located in the first corner.
 14. The automatedparcel singulator according to claim 11, further comprising: a firstoutput sensor located near the first output; wherein the first outputsensor provides the controller with data when a package is ejected fromthe first output.
 15. The automated parcel singulator according to claim13, further comprising: a first output sensor located near the firstoutput; a pair of measuring sensors facing opposite directions locatedbetween the first output sensor and the corner sensor; wherein the pairof measuring sensors provides the controller with a width of a packagebefore being ejected from the first output; and wherein the first outputsensor provides the controller with data when a package is ejected fromthe first output.
 16. The automated parcel singulator according to claim13, further comprising: an upstream sensor located a first distanceupstream of the first output, the upstream sensor located on the linearconveyor system; wherein the first distance is as wide as the firstoutput; and wherein the controller can determine when to eject a packageonto the linear conveyor system based upon the upstream sensor.
 17. Theautomated parcel singulator according to claim 11, further comprising: ahopper sensor located near an output of the hopper system; wherein thecontroller can actuated the hopper system based upon the hopper sensor.18. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 13, furthercomprising: a downstream sensor located downstream of the first output,the downstream sensor located on the linear conveyor system.
 19. Theautomated parcel singulator according to claim 11, further comprising: afirst output sensor located near the first output; wherein the firstoutput sensor is elevated over the second conveyor and faces downwardstowards the second conveyor.
 20. An automated parcel singulator forselectively transferring parcels from a hopper system onto a linearconveyor system, the automated parcel singulator comprising: an infeedtable comprising: a first conveyor disposed approximately perpendicularto the hopper, the first conveyor being configured to receive theparcels from the hopper system and transfer the parcels to the secondconveyor; a second conveyor disposed approximately perpendicular to thefirst conveyor, the second conveyor being configured to selectivelytransfer the parcels from the first conveyor to the third conveyor, thesecond conveyor also being disposed approximately perpendicular to thethird conveyor; a third conveyor disposed approximately perpendicular tothe second conveyor, the third conveyor being configured to selectivelytransfer the parcels from the second conveyor to the linear conveyorsystem, the third conveyor also being disposed approximatelyperpendicular to the linear conveyor system; at least a firstcontroller; at least one position sensor configured to determine a gapbetween parcels on the linear conveyor system and to relay such gapdetermination to the first controller; and at least one width sensorconfigured to determine the width of the parcels and to relay such widthdetermination to the first controller as the parcels move along thefirst conveyor, the second conveyor, or the third conveyor, the widthsensor being located so as to detect the width of the parcels while theparcels are at or upstream of an interface between the third conveyorand the linear conveyor system; wherein the parcels are selectively heldon and transferred from the third conveyor onto the linear conveyorsystem, based upon the widths of the parcels on the third conveyor andthe gaps between parcels moving along the linear conveyor system, asdetermined by the position sensor, the width sensor, and the firstcontroller.